Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith announces that they have retained shooting guard J.J. Redick and most likely will not resign forward Matt Barnes during a press conference at RDV Sportsplex in Maitland, FL Friday, July 16, 2010. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

Otis Smith should be feeling the universal love these days for engineering the Orlando Magic’s blockbuster trade in December.

During TNT’s halftime report in the Orlando Magic-Boston Celtics game, Charles Barkley gave the Magic a glowing endorsement of its offense, particularly Dwight Howard and Ryan Anderson.

“This is why I love the trade in Orlando,” Charles Barkley said. “They got more weapons offensively, I think, than any team in the NBA. They got a bunch of guys who can score. You have to take your hat off to Otis Smith, they have a chance now.”

But it’s the Magic’s defense that needs work. The fact that the Magic allowed an early 10-point Boston Celtics lead and 60 percent shooting from the field largely contributed to the Magic’s 109-106 road loss, says Sentinel Magic reporter Josh Robbins.

That certainly can’t happen against a team like Boston, which has four players (Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce) with 20,000 plus career points.

On another completely different, yet interesting note… Charles Barkley gave his opinion on who is the best point guard in the NBA so far and the popular Chris Paul wasn’t No. 1 or even No. 2.

“Derrick Rose is the new pest point guard in the NBA,” Barkley said. “Chris Paul is No. 3, I hate to say it, Deron Williams I love you, but Derrick Rose is the best point guard in the NBA right now.”

Rose, though, isn’t better on paper than Paul and Williams yet. Paul currently averages the third highest total assists in the NBA (9.6 apg) and that’s one spot above Williams, who averages 9.4. Rajon Rondo leads the NBA with 13.4 apg followed by Steve Nash (10.8).

Rose averages 8.1 apg, but the more telling statistic is turnovers. Rose collected 140 turnovers so far — more than any of the above mentioned guards.

Derrick Rose has potential to be the best point guard in the NBA one day, but not today.

TNT analyst Charles Barkley talks outside the Staples Center before the start of the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE ORG

The always entertaining cast of TNT analysts didn’t disappoint during the second headline NBA game of Monday night between Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers.

During the halftime report, Charles Barkley showed the world that he knows how to “Dougie.” But I have to admit the best part about this exchange is Ernie Johnson’s reaction.

Barkley said he never met Cam Newton and did not purchase tickets for him. He didn’t shy away from the topic saying that he would have purchased tickets for Newton if he wanted them and would have given him a tour of the NBA locker room considering Cam Newton is the third best athlete in Auburn sports history behind Barkley and Bo Jackson according to Barkley.

But the quips didn’t stop there. Charles Barkley also gave his take on the controversial Tucker Carlson comments on Michael Vick. He said Carlson previously worked for TNT but was fired because “he sucked.” Barkley also added that “the brothers” were pulling for Michael Vick as he paid his debt to society.

Rick Fox poses with Cheryl Burke following the 11th season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars," Monday, Sept. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Is ABC’s Dancing with the Stars already having a positive effect on the career of retired NBA veteran Rick Fox? Possibly.

NBA TV, a partner channel with TNT, announced Rick Fox will join the network as a guest studio analyst. NBA TV is carried in more than 53 million homes in the United States and will broadcast up to 275 games this season.

There are at least three things you can count on in life: taxes, death and a bold opinion from Charles Barkley.

TNT basketball analyst Charles Barkley criticized ESPN for its extensive coverage of the Miami Heat and LeBron James during an interview with WIP, a radio station in Philadelphia. The interview followed James’ comments to CNN reporter Soledad O’Brien, in which he responded to a question about race playing a factor in the public backlash against him.

WIP: Do you think ESPN has lost…(Barkley chimes in)

Barkley: This is unprecedented [butt] kissing.

WIP: Do you think ESPN, when it comes to the NBA, has pretty much lost all credibility?

Barkley: I think they have definitely lost credibility. First off, it’s been embarrassing. I’ve never seen anything like this to be honest with you.

Charles Barkley arriving for the Stand Up to Cancer benefit at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

There is yet another reason to like Charles Barkley. He will stand behind the stones he throws.

TNT analyst Charles Barkley told a radio station in Dallas Thursday that he wants to make sure LeBron James knows that he is on the list of critics, calling his “Decision” a “punk move.”

“I heard about LeBron’s little tweet today that he’s remembering everybody who said anything bad about him,” Barkley said. “And he said ‘everybody.’ Well, I want him to make sure that he puts my name on that [list].”

LeBron James may have just surpassed Tiger Woods on the list of “hated” athletes (except in Miami, of course). He’s been largely panned by basketball fans for announcing his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavalier for the Miami Heat in hour-long ESPN special in July.

Something tells me the negative feelings about LeBron James will dissipate should he win an NBA championship.

Do you think LeBron James will win back his former supporters or has he forever lost their respect?

Could you really imagine Michael Jordan ever in any circumstance (excluding the Olympics) wanting to play with Larry Bird or Magic Johnson?

Neither could we. Beating them would be much satisfying for somebody like Michael Jordan.

Foxsports.com reported that Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley had different views about star athletes leaving franchises for the hope of championship rings (and maybe a little more sun in LeBron’s case).

“There’s no way, with hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry, called up Magic and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team. But that’s … things are different. I can’t say that’s a bad thing. It’s an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys,” Michael Jordan said.

Charles Barkley, of course, was more direct in his response questioning LeBron’s move, to the Arizona Republic.

“Mike and I are in 100 percent agreement on this. If you’re the two-time defending NBA MVP, you don’t leave anywhere. They come to you. That’s ridiculous. I like LeBron. He’s a great player. But I don’t think in the history of sports you can find a two-time defending MVP leaving to go play with other people.”

Jordan’s comments also became a topic of debate on ESPN’s First Take Monday morning.

The LeBron James debate is morphing into a new school vs. old school debate about the manner in which championships are pursued.

It’s important to note how the competitive AAU scene is making the basketball world increasingly smaller. Today’s elite athletes usually compete together at some point in their amateur careers whether it’s a summer league championship or being selected to some Junior Olympics team.

That mentality usually spills over into high school sports. If you look at the boys and girls high school basketball rosters one season, I can guarantee you the same kids will not be on the team the following season.

Today’s athletes want to win — and bad. They don’t care about rivals or beating certain opponents. They care about the rings and titles.

Its long been said the NBA regular season and NBA playoffs are really two separate seasons.

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers certainly proved that last night in a 120-88 home loss to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have a 3-2 advantage and are on the verge of advancing to the Eastern Conference finals where they will meet the Orlando Magic.

It’s hard to imagine LeBron James and the Cavs destroyed the Lakers earlier this season, one of the myriad of reasons LeBron James repeated as the NBA’s MVP.

But after a dismal performance Tuesday night, fans and analysts are beginning to wonder what in the world is going on with LeBron James.

“I’ve said all year, I think LeBron James is the best basketball player in the world. But I am 100 percent disappointed,” said TNT analyst Charles Barkley. “Not the fact that he did not have a good game, clearly he did not have a good game. But his mentality. Like, I go back. I played against a Michael Jordan, a Karl Malone, a Patrick Ewing. Listen, that gun was going to be empty by the end of the game, but I did not see that tonight. Clearly, it happened in Game 2, but tonight in the biggest game of the season, clearly this was the biggest game of the season, I did not see the aggressor that I needed from an MVP at all.”

If the playoffs were included with the regular season MVP voting, would LeBron James still be deserving? If not, then who would get your vote for MVP? Dwight Howard? Rajon Rondo? Kobe Bryant (still surprised he didn’t get any nods).